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To ward off extinction of its folk culture, China should learn from the successful experience of Western countries, according to an article in the Guangming Daily. An excerpt follows:
China boasts the world's richest repositories of oral and intangible cultural heritage. That folk cultural heritage is highlighted by cultural and ethnic diversity.
In 2001, Kunqu Opera, the oldest form of Chinese folk opera, and the guqin, a zither-like seven-stringed musical instrument of ancient China, were listed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the association which is making verbatim recordings of ballads and operas, as masterpieces of oral and intangible cultural heritage. This has greatly inspired the country's enthusiasm for folk culture protection.
However, the general picture of folk culture in rural areas is not rosy at all, with industrialization and globalization leaving their marks.
With economic development and social changes, some styles of traditional culture have lost their original flavour. Folk culture, especially its intangible element, has even been marred and is gradually disappearing.
A worsening social environment for the existence of ethnic and folk culture combined with a shortage of scientific protection and the loss of artistic professionals all contribute to the plight of China's folk culture.
Western countries have achieved marked progress on folk culture protection in recent years. China should learn from the successful experience of these countries.
European countries like France, Germany, Finland and Norway have enacted laws on folk culture protection and established an effective protection mechanism.
China is expected to soon introduce a law to protect folk cultural heritage. Thus, issues in the area should be dealt with according to law.
Western experience also highlights the indispensable role of administrative measures in safeguarding cultural heritage. Fortunately, China is also striving to take effective administrative measures in this regard.
Last year a nationwide preservation project was launched to co-ordinate national efforts and help keep the essence of China's folk culture alive among the people. Public consciousness on the need to protect folk culture has been increasing ever since.


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